Teacher Eligibility Test

Teacher Eligibility Test known as TET is an Indian entrance examination for teachers. The test is mandatory for getting teaching jobs in government schools from Class 1 to Class 8. Paper 1 is meant for teachers opting for Class 1 to Class 5 and Paper 2 for Class 6 to Class 8. It is conducted by both Central government and State governments in India. Most states conduct their own TET.^[1] The test is conducted in order fulfill and achieve the goals of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.

History

TET was introduced by the Government of India in order to improve standards in teaching. It was held for the first time in 2011.^[2] For teachers already working, they are supposed to clear the exam in two years time.^[3]

The Test

The exam is based on National Curriculum Framework. All graduates, including B.A, B.Sc, B.Com etc. are eligible to take the test. All B. Ed. graduates need to pass this exam to work as a teacher. A candidate has to score over 60 per cent to clear the eligibility test.^[4] The exam is divided into Paper 1 and Paper 2.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) maintains the database.

Central Teacher Eligibility Test

In accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 23 of the RTE Act, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had vide Notification dated 23 August 2010 and 29 July 2011 laid down the minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in classes I to VIII. It had been inter alia provided that one of the essential qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in any of the schools referred to in clause (n) of section 2 of the RTE Act is that he/she should pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) which will be conducted by the appropriate Government in accordance with the Guidelines framed by the NCTE. The examination is tough with qualification rates of 1% to 14% in the exams held so far.

CBSE conducts CTET twice in a year.^[5] CTET 2016 exam is going to conduct on 21 February 2016 and 18 September 2016. CTET scores will release in March 2016 for CTET Feb and in October for CTET Sept.^[6] Approximately 9 lac applicants appear for the examination.

The rationale for including the TET as a minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher is as under:

• It would bring national standards and benchmark of teacher quality in the recruitment process;
• It would induce teacher education institutions and students from these institutions to further improve their performance standards;
• It would send a positive signal to all stakeholders that the Government lays special emphasis on teacher quality

The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India has entrusted the responsibility of conducting the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) to the Central Board of Secondary Education Delhi.^[7]

Andhra Pradesh

TET weight age is 20% in DSC for selection of teachers. Some 4 Lakh students appeared for 2012 test.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE)conducted Teacher Eligibility Test known as RTET is an entrance examination for teachers in Rajasthan state.

Teacher Eligibility Tests are conducted twice a year in the form of Level I and Level II.

Level I contains 150 questions which is divided into five parts such as – I, II, III, IV, V.

Similarly, Level II is divided into 4 parts out of which I, II, III are mandatory.

Question papers for both the levels will have objective type questions containing 150 questions in total.

Time duration given for candidates who appear for this exam will be 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test

Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) is conducted by Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) for categories of school teachers i.e. Primary (PRT), Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) and post Graduate Teacher (PGT) time to time. Till 2009, it was called as State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) but after 2009 by implementation of RTE Act, 2009 and issuance of notification by the NCTE in the year 2011, this examination was renamed as HTET. This test conducts in following Three Categories:

• Level I  : who intends to be a teacher for classes I to V (Primary Teacher)
• Level II : who intends to be a teacher for classes VI to VIII (TGT – Trained Graduate Teacher)
• Level III: who intends to be a PGT (Post Graduate Teacher)

The rationale for including the HTET as a minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher is as follows:

• It would bring state standard & point of teacher quality in the recruitment process;
• Those candidates who has qualified HTET/STET can also appear again for improving his/her score.
• The Validity Period of HTET qualifying certificate is five years from the date of passing HTET.
• A candidate may take this test many times for acquiring a Certificate as there is no restriction on the number of attempts. ^[8]

Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test

The Department of School Education of Punjab is responsible for conducting Punjab State teacher eligibility test or PSTET exam. The Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test is conducted as two different papers.

Paper I for recruitment of teachers from Class I to V Paper II for recruitment of teachers from Class VI to VIII

The Punjab State TET paper I exam is conducted for the candidates those who want to join [Punjab School Education Board] as a teacher for the classes from 1st to 5th. The paper II exam is conducted for the candidates those who want to be a teacher of classes from 6th to 8th. The TET eligible candidates can apply for the Punjab Teachers Eligibility Test by using the official site of Punjab School Education board.

References

External links

• CTET official website
• PSTET News